Results 34,241-34,260 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jun 2021)
Micheál Martin: The legislation is being allowed to proceed to Committee Stage, but the Government will bring forward an approach to the insertion of a right to housing in the Constitution. It may be different from the construct suggested by Deputy Murphy, but Government parties are committed to a right to housing in the Constitution and will set about preparing for that in a proper, comprehensive and...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jun 2021)
Micheál Martin: -----because it does not fit one's particular ideological type of approach. We need a collective consensus approach to getting projects built. Until we get more houses built, we are not going to solve this problem.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jun 2021)
Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Berry for the questions. First, the €915 million is a grant, not a loan, although the facility exists for Ireland to submit an application for loan facilities as well from the European Union's recovery and resilience facility. I actively supported the creation of a new European Union initiative, the recovery and resilience facility, at the European Council meeting last...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jun 2021)
Micheál Martin: I appreciate the Deputy's point, but we will not be able to get a similar amount in the second round. It will not be of that scale because the metrics, in terms of the application of the GDP measurement, is going to make it challenging for us. We will keep open the idea and possibility of borrowing from the facility but, given the fact we can borrow quite cheaply, or I might say at low...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jun 2021)
Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Harkin for raising this issue. We have provided substantial resources to An Garda Síochána. Some of the issues she has raised are operational issues. Garda management, I am told, keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of policing priorities and crime trends to ensure their optimum use. As the Deputy knows, the Garda Commissioner...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jun 2021)
Micheál Martin: First, I accept the Deputy's commitment to this issue. As I said, I will discuss it with the Minister. Fundamentally, Garda management is responsible for the deployment of resources and it may have a particular perspective on the facilities. I will seek a report on this matter and the background to it from the Minister. As I indicated, very substantial resources of close to €2...
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Jun 2021)
Micheál Martin: The Deputy is being politically dishonest. How do I know this? The evidence is very clear as to what her party does when it has financial responsibility. Just one hour's drive from this building, in Northern Ireland, Sinn Féin runs the Department of Finance. It is the largest party in five out of 11 local authorities. It has no problem whatsoever with an annual tax on the family...
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Jun 2021)
Micheál Martin: You get services here as well. We want to give councils the opportunity to provide services locally. Sinn Féin will vote against this but wants the services at the same time. That is hypocrisy. That is dishonesty. This is what Sinn Féin does as a party. This is what it votes for locally. I actually agree with the Sinn Féin councillors in the North. I do not fault them....
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Jun 2021)
Micheál Martin: It is utter hypocrisy and political dishonesty on Deputy McDonald's part to come in here and make the assertions she continually makes.
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Jun 2021)
Micheál Martin: Collectively, we have to work this out and make up our minds on the types of inquiries we want in this country. I say that genuinely because the commission of investigation model was introduced, as the Deputy will know, to make for a better type of inquiry. In some cases it has worked; in other cases it has not worked. The commission rarely comes before Oireachtas committees because that...
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Jun 2021)
Micheál Martin: I do not know the circumstances of that at all.
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Jun 2021)
Micheál Martin: Through the Chair, could I make my point? I have no responsibility for the individuals concerned.
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Jun 2021)
Micheál Martin: The Deputy knows that. I would have no issue with the commission coming before the committee and giving its perspective on this. However, we have an issue as to how we are to proceed if we are to initiate further inquiries into different issues, be they social or historical issues going back a long time or current issues. The current situation is not satisfactory.
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Jun 2021)
Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I presume he is referring to the Dublin Region Homeless Executive's report on deaths among the homeless population in Dublin. It was prepared by Dr. Austin O'Carroll, who is a founding member of the Safetynet GP services for homeless people. The Minister has a copy of the report and will meet Dr. O'Carroll this Thursday to discuss it. It is an...
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Jun 2021)
Micheál Martin: These are very difficult situations for the families concerned. I do not accept the Deputy's assertion that GSOC is not independent. It is chaired by an independent chairperson, a judge. One of the difficulties we have, it seems to me, is that if, say, GSOC or HIQA carries out an investigation and its report is not deemed satisfactory or does not find what people want to be found or what...
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Jun 2021)
Micheál Martin: I am not just talking about deaths in custody.
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Jun 2021)
Micheál Martin: I am speaking generally, across the board. We have a number of inquiries under way. Every month someone in here wants a public inquiry into something but they are extraordinarily long and enormously expensive-----
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Jun 2021)
Micheál Martin: -----and their results are never satisfactory anyway to those who seek the inquiries.
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Jun 2021)
Micheál Martin: There is a challenge here. I am trying to be fair. We need to engage on this. Otherwise, it is the easiest thing in the world for people to come in and call for a public inquiry. GSOC is independent, or does the Deputy think it is not?
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Jun 2021)
Micheál Martin: Should we abolish it then?